Benfica’s defeat to Porto in the Portuguese Cup sparks unprecedented scenes | OneFootball

Benfica reached an undesirable milestone in its history by equaling the longest period without victories in the Portuguese Cup. With the recent elimination against Porto this past Wednesday, the team has now gone nine consecutive seasons without winning the prestigious tournament, repeating the drought recorded between 2004/05 and 2012/13. This fact contrasts with the club's historical status in the competition and once again generates criticism among fans and critics.

Benfica hasn't been to Jamor since 2016/17

The last time Benfica celebrated winning the Portuguese Cup was in the 2016/17 season. At that time, under the management of Rui Vitória, the Eagles defeated Vitória de Guimarães 2-1 in the final held at Jamor. Since then, despite some good campaigns, the trophy has systematically eluded the Club of Light, which sees direct rivals taking on greater prominence in the competition.

After that victory, Benfica reached three finals but was always defeated. In 2020, they lost to Porto, and in 2021, they fell to Braga, with both finals held in Coimbra due to pandemic restrictions. Last season, the outcome was equally bitter, with a defeat in the derby against Sporting, decided only in extra time.

Mourinho has yet to defeat Porto or Sporting

The current moment is even more delicate due to the results since José Mourinho arrived in Portuguese football. The coach has yet to defeat any of the three main national rivals. He has drawn against Porto (0-0) and Sporting (1-1), in addition to a draw (2-2) and a loss against Sp. Braga (1-3), the latter in the semi-finals of the Allianz Cup.

The recent elimination at Dragão, for the Portuguese Cup, confirmed a forgettable start to 2026. Besides eliminating another objective for the season, the defeat increases the pressure on the team and the club's structure, which faces heightened expectations in a club accustomed to fighting for titles and responding in decisive moments.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.